The Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector (RAGS) Challenge Fund encourage projects intended for improving conditions of vulnerable workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) production sector.
The major objective of the fund is to benefit workers in low-and lower-middle-income countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa which supply garments to the UK market. RAGS also aim to make responsible and ethical production the norm in the garment manufacturing sector supplying the UK. In the current scenario, RAGS is supporting 12 projects across four countries including Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Lesotho.
RAGS grants matching funds to non-governmental organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit, associated with labour conditions in the garment sector in poorer African and Asian countries supplying the UK market. This includes trade unions, private businesses and members of both ethical and fair trade movements.
RAGS are funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID). Grants are made to NGOs or trade unions, companies, who commit to demonstrate sustainable improvements in the working conditions of garment workers in countries supplying the UK market. Funds are made available on a cost-sharing basis. This means that for every grant made the grant holder (company, NGO or trade union) must match public funds with their own finance or in-kind contribution. A call for grant applications took place in 2010 and approved projects from this call are currently being implemented.
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